From closet to contaminant to control: Unveiling microplastic sources in household textiles and potential for environmental application

The textile sector is a significant contributor to worldwide pollution, especially through the generation of microplastics. This study addresses the critical issue of microplastic pollution and focuses on identifying potential sources of microplastics from degraded domestic textiles. The samples were collected from shed or worn-out fibers of domestic textiles and analyzed using advanced analytical techniques. To repurpose these fibers for potential environmental applications, the microplastics were chemically and thermally activated using KOH, ZnCl₂, and H₂O₂ at 500 °C and then applied for cationic and anionic dye remediation. The results showed that ZnCl₂-activated polyurethane and polyester fibers provided the best efficiency for anionic (87.69 % removal, adsorption capacity 52.13 mg/g) and cationic (97.69 % removal, adsorption capacity 208.40 mg/g) dye remediation, and the percentage of Zn immobilization during adsorption was 99.92 % and 99.91 %, respectively. The activated microplastics before and after treatment were also characterized to understand the remediation by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analysis. In this investigation, upcycling old textile microplastic, for the first time, not only addresses the escalating microplastic pollution from landfills and other disposal sites but also provides remediation in wastewater treatment. The findings provide new insights into microplastic pollution from domestic textiles and offer a solution to managing this waste, providing new insights into managing textile waste and reducing its environmental impact.